assuming Wiggins goes first

[BleedGreen1989]

I'd like to see how their college year goes for all of them but as of now I say Jabari Parker.

[TeamGreen.dm]

Jabari Parker is just a 1-4 guy and thats what WE need along with his swagger n star power. I look at Grant Hill and see alot of JP in him, the first 6 years of Hills career ofc

[peachbucket]

No way Ainge passes on Parker....book it.  Not even if Celtics get the number one pick.

[gpap]

Well, I just read up on all these guys.

I am in the minority here but I go with either Marcus Smart or Willey Cauley-Stein.

As talented as Parker, Randle and Gordon seem, they are wing players or power forwards.

IMO, good wing players are easier to come by in the NBA.

However, a really good point guard OR a really good center is more of a rare find that every team needs.

That would be my choice. Cauley-Stein is an athletic 7 footer. Would love to see him in green!

[Galeto]

I like both Parker and Exum. 

Aaron Gordon, however, I don't see how he's a top five pick.  His skill level is extremely low for a small forward.  He has the skill level of a high-level grunt power forward. I've watched about five of his high school games and never saw him make a jumper.  He's a pretty good free throw shooter however.  I just don't understand why his offensive game is so rudimentary.  What has he been working on off the court?  He's one of the top ranked seniors in his class and his offensive game is comprised of little push shots from five feet away.  It must be some elaborate joke.  If he's a NBA small forward, Bass is a NBA point guard.

One thing that really impressed me was his defense.  I watched him guard Jabari Bird, a 6'6 guard who also made the McDonald's team and may be a lottery pick in time, maybe even as soon as next year, and he did a fabulous job.  Maybe he'll never be a big scorer but if he could improve his outside shot, he could be a very valuable smallball PF.

[action781]

I think Marcus Smart has Tyreke Evans written all over him

[Galeto]

No way Ainge passes on Parker....book it.  Not even if Celtics get the number one pick.

I don't know.  Never underestimate Ainge's love of athleticism and so-so ballhandling in swingmen. 

[manl_lui]

I really like Julius Randle...he can really man his way into the paint...saw a few highlights of him vs Wiggins and I just saw him power his way in with Wiggins on him...

[gpap]

I think Marcus Smart has Tyreke Evans written all over him

Maybe. I looked him up on NBAdraft.net. From what I read, he sounds like an impressive player and the NBA comparison was James Harden
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/marcus-smart

Granted, scouting reports aren't always accurate but if this one is on-point, then Smart sounds like he could be a special player.

Also, I found this background info on Willey Cauley Stein which really drew me to him as well. This is copied and pasted from the following site

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/84581/kentuckys-key-returner-willie-cauley-stein

But Cauley-Stein's case really is the most convincing. You won't find many 7-footers as athletic as Cauley-Stein at any level, full stop, and the big man already demonstrated solid rebounding on both ends of the floor and competent finishing ability around the rim. He ended the season having shot 62.1 percent from the field, which is great pretty much any way you slice it. Despite that output, though, Cauley-Stein couldn't be relied on to score over a competent defender. According to Synergy scouting data, Cauley-Stein scored 1.55 points per possession when he cut to the rim and 1.05 on offensive rebound putbacks but just .067 points per trip the 75 times he was put in a legitimate post-up opportunity.

This is rawness personified. A little more touch and one or two reliable moves, and there's no reason an athletic 7-footer can't score over even the best collegiate post defenders.

[action781]

I think Marcus Smart has Tyreke Evans written all over him

Maybe. I looked him up on NBAdraft.net. From what I read, he sounds like an impressive player and the NBA comparison was James Harden
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/marcus-smart

Granted, scouting reports aren't always accurate but if this one is on-point, then Smart sounds like he could be a special player.

Also, I found this background info on Willey Cauley Stein which really drew me to him as well. This is copied and pasted from the following site

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/84581/kentuckys-key-returner-willie-cauley-stein

But Cauley-Stein's case really is the most convincing. You won't find many 7-footers as athletic as Cauley-Stein at any level, full stop, and the big man already demonstrated solid rebounding on both ends of the floor and competent finishing ability around the rim. He ended the season having shot 62.1 percent from the field, which is great pretty much any way you slice it. Despite that output, though, Cauley-Stein couldn't be relied on to score over a competent defender. According to Synergy scouting data, Cauley-Stein scored 1.55 points per possession when he cut to the rim and 1.05 on offensive rebound putbacks but just .067 points per trip the 75 times he was put in a legitimate post-up opportunity.

This is rawness personified. A little more touch and one or two reliable moves, and there's no reason an athletic 7-footer can't score over even the best collegiate post defenders.

Have you seen Smart play? He's a score-first SG in a "big PG/small SG"  body (like Evans) who will be forced into playing/becoming a PG in the nba (like Evans). Actually similar to harden except harden was allowed to play SG which is more natural to him.

I know nothing about Cauley-Stein but you're description reminds me of an athletic Brendan Haywood.

[lightspeed5]

I think Marcus Smart has Tyreke Evans written all over him

Maybe. I looked him up on NBAdraft.net. From what I read, he sounds like an impressive player and the NBA comparison was James Harden
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/marcus-smart

Granted, scouting reports aren't always accurate but if this one is on-point, then Smart sounds like he could be a special player.

Also, I found this background info on Willey Cauley Stein which really drew me to him as well. This is copied and pasted from the following site

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/84581/kentuckys-key-returner-willie-cauley-stein

But Cauley-Stein's case really is the most convincing. You won't find many 7-footers as athletic as Cauley-Stein at any level, full stop, and the big man already demonstrated solid rebounding on both ends of the floor and competent finishing ability around the rim. He ended the season having shot 62.1 percent from the field, which is great pretty much any way you slice it. Despite that output, though, Cauley-Stein couldn't be relied on to score over a competent defender. According to Synergy scouting data, Cauley-Stein scored 1.55 points per possession when he cut to the rim and 1.05 on offensive rebound putbacks but just .067 points per trip the 75 times he was put in a legitimate post-up opportunity.

This is rawness personified. A little more touch and one or two reliable moves, and there's no reason an athletic 7-footer can't score over even the best collegiate post defenders.

marcus smart is not even half as quick as harden

[bfrombleacher]

Trade down if they want anyone else other than Parker.

[GreenEnvy]

The fact that there are so many different players mentioned speaks to how talented this draft class could be.

I will be horribly disappointed if we don't have a top pick next year. It will make or break us IMO. A top 2 pick puts us on the fast track to being a contender, with Rondo and Green here and trade chips on cheap deals (AB, Sully, KO) and expirings. A top 5 pick also expedites the process. Anything below 10, we are irrelevant for the next 5 years minimum.

[tarheelsxxiii]

The fact that there are so many different players mentioned speaks to how talented this draft class could be.
A top 2 pick puts us on the fast track to being a contender

As one team picking early in the draft, I think you could argue the opposite, though - the fact that so many different names are being thrown around as superior choices gives me the impression there is considerable variability as to how these guys may pan out.

Wiggins is clearly a freak, Parker has been touted as a future star since he was like 12, and Randle is certainly athletic for  his size. There are a lot of guys similarly talented and athletic, however, that have yet to win a 'chip in the league. Beyond that, consider how long it took the greats to win one (e.g., Lebron, Jordan), and the fact that they needed significant help in order to do so.

Not to mention, consider the careers of Oden, Thabeet, T-Mac (injuries), Darco, Kwame(jordan), Kandiman, etc. -  maybe the hype around this draft (perhaps, deservedly so) could easily deter us from realistic expectations for the next few years (e.g., history tells us Wiggins, even if he develops into one of the top 3 players in the game, may not win a 'chip till he's 28).

[ManUp]

Top 5 you go for talent regardless of fit. You only go for fit if your a contender and the talent difference is considered negligible. I don't see any reason you wouldn't draft Parker #2 if you had the chance. Jeff Green isn't a real reason, atleast not yet.